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Annual report submitted by Lewis Goodbody, agent, to Lord Digby, in which he presents a detailed set of accounts and remits £5481 in rental income for Digby's properties in King's County and Rosekeen in Queen's County. Also references the burning of Geashill Castle on 16 August 1922 and that a claim for £15,000 has been lodged against the County and the Provisional Government.

Soft bound minute book of the King’s County Infirmary board of management meetings. Minutes consist of an overview of tenders for supplies, statements of account and building repairs and maintenance. Records decisions regarding the hiring and managing of staff, fees for patients, and transcription of correspondence. The board were often concerned with funding, establishing an ‘Improvement Fund Collection’, received funds from the Tuberculosis Scheme Grant and through Lady Rosse (later, Viscountess de Vesci) petitioned for a grant from the Joint War Committee for the hospital which they received in August 1920.

Meetings between January and August 1921 discuss the possible and eventual closure of the County Infirmary and the amalgamation of the institution with the Central Hospital which was formally the Union Hospital.

Prominent members of board include, Rev. W Phelan (Chairman June 1921), Rev J. Flynn (Vice-Chairman June 1921), R.S. Craig, Rev PJ Egan, Rev Philip Callery, J.M Russell, J.A Lumley, and Rev John Humphries.

It was noted in October 1920, that Fr Thomas Burbage, a noted Republican and a member of the Board had a lucky escape after being shot at by the military on his journey between Tullamore and Geashill by motor bicycle.

The autograph book originally belonged to John Lennon, of Killeenmore, Killeigh, and Harbour St, Tullamore. He was an internee of the Rath Internment Camp at the Curragh (1921) and later of Tintown Camp (1923). The album contains many Laois/Offaly signatories such as E. Forrestal, Tullamore (Rath); Bob Lennon, Killeigh (Rath); Frank Bulfin TD, Derrinlough, Birr (Rath); Seaghan Ó Dulchaointigh, Crinkle, Birr (Rath); J. G. Ross, Killeigh (Rath); Patrick J. Daly, Tullamore (Hut 31, Rath), Jimmie Egan, Henry Street, Tullamore (Hut 25, Rath), Denis Walsh, Tullamore (Hut 40, Rath); Séamus O’Faolain (Hut 12 Camp 3 Tintown), Patrick Boland, Ballycumber, (Camp 3 Tintown), Walter A. Mitchell (Camp 2 Tintown); Edward Dunne, Clonaslee (Camp 2, Tintown), Sean McGuinness TD, Kilbeggan, and P. Bracken, Clonaslee (Hut 12 Tintown). Later non-political entries dating from c. 1927 are by Maggie Corcoran (later Lennon) and her relatives and friends.

Correspondence (1963-70), mainly between Swayne and W. H. Milner, Portarlington, relating to a film made by Fr. Kennedy in 1921 ostensibly on the turf-cutting industry in the area, but also features the exhumation of skulls of the ‘Ballynowlart Martyrs’ who were purportedly burned alive in Ballynowlart church by English forces in the 1600s. Correspondence culminates in the deposit of the film in the National Library of Ireland.

Offaly Sinn Féin material: original resolution from North and South Offaly Executive Sinn Féin signed by Comd. Ua Duinn relating to its support of the Treaty (29 December 1921) and calling on Offaly’s representative Dr McCartan to vote for ratification, and a pamphlet entitled 'Terms of Reference 23 May 1922 Adjourned Árd-Fheis of Sinn Féin'.

Leaflets and other printed material relating to Croghan Feis organised by Offaly Vocational Education Committee (1949).
Manuscripts notes on placenames and history of Killeigh Parish and Philipstown (Daingean).

Publications: Programme for Walsh Island Second National Turf-cutting competition (1935); Knockbeg Centenary Year Book (1948); and Suncroft, a Parish Magazine (1970).

Newspaper cuttings, some mounted on card, with corresponding catalogue numbers, which were placed on display during An Tóstal exhibitions in Tullamore in 1953 and 1954:

1. 'Geashill Cauldron Given to Nation', Midland Tribune, 4 April 1954
   2.'The Lays of Tullamore'
2. 'Tony Molloy Wrote for Nation's Youth'
3. 'Kilcormac's Famous Missal - a historic manuscript'. By 'P.F.' Offaly Independent, 16 August 1952
4. 'The Famed Blue Ball - an incident of the Land War.' By 'P.F.'
5. 'Offaly's Fighting Story' - a series of articles on the War of Independence and Civil War published in the Offaly Independent in March 1954, by 'P.F.' Includes photocopied duplicates of same. Articles include 'The Ambush at Raheen', 'Attempted Ambush at Blue Ball', 'Mount Lucas Ambush' and 'the Fight for Freedom'.
6. 'We Sail the River Shannon - St Ciarán of Clonmacnois' by H. J. Rice.
7. 'Offaly's Twelve Baronies' by 'P.F.'

Letterbook created by Reginald Digby recording letters received from the tenants’ association on the Geashill Estate in relation to the sale of lands by Lord Digby to the tenants under the Land Act of 1903. Includes his copy replies to the secretaries of the association, James Matthews and John Corcoran, and later James Chissell. Also includes copy letters from solicitor to the estate, Lewis Goodbody, who advises on proceedings with the Land Commission and letters from Fr. O’Beirne PP, acting as an intermediary between the estate and the tenants.

Includes a memo of a meeting between Lord Digby and a deputation from the tenants’ association on 30 September 1907, and the decision arrived at by the tenants at a further meeting in the Forester’s Hall, Tullamore, on 2 January 1908 to reject the terms of sale put forward by Lord Digby due to his decision not to cancel the hanging gale and remit a half year’s rent as requested by the tenants.

Also includes later newspaper cuttings concerning unrest on the Estate at the decision to sell untenanted lands to three land owners rather than distributed to small holders and evicted tenants. Cuttings also refer to the Geashill Cattle Drive of November 1914 and the subsequent court martial with James Rogers representing the forty-six arrested. Includes transcripts of James Rogers’ cross-examination of County Inspector Hubert William Crane. Also includes a loose printed catalogue of the auction of Geashill Castle’s contents to be held 22 March 1922.

Copies of approximately 1000 letters, averaging 1 per page. Some letters illegible due to fading. Contains many letters relating to ongoing sale of the Purdon Estate, Philipstown (Daingean) as well as letters relating to the Geashill Cattle Drive.
Includes letter to R. F. Barry, Esq., Crown Solicitor re The King v Adams and 45 others Geashill Case: 'I give you on annexed page particulars of the rail fare paid by the 45 defendants to take them to Kingsbridge for their trial in December last. There were 46 charged, but one, Thomas Hynes, was a prisoner and was conveyed up by the Authorities. Two witnesses were also brought up, namely, Father MacDonald and Dr. Barry of Philipstown, and both were examined. I also include their single fares. The accused and the witnesses had, of course, to be conveyed to Green Street, and I put £1 down for this though it would not probably nearly cover it as several of them took cars from the station. There can be no controversy however about the railway fares. I also give the figure of the return fares in case these are allowed. The parties had to come back, and as a matter of fact, were kept in Dublin two days; but I do not think these expenses are payable. I trust you will be able to kindly have whatever they are legally entitled to paid to them through me.' (29 March 1915)

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence relating to the administration of the Geashill Estate. Matters referred to include the sale of the Post Office at Geashill; rent arrears, particularly from proprietor of Post Office at Killeigh; right of way at Geashill Vicarage/Rectory; insurance cover; poaching and trespass; timber trade and forestry; lease of Garda Barracks, Geashill to the Office of Public Works and repair of same; the Fisheries Bill (1939); the outbreak of World War II and its effect on forestry.

Includes hand-drawn map by Darley, Orpen & McGillycuddy Solicitors, of Geashill Glebe, scale 1/2500, showing lands belonging to Representative Church Body and rights of way adjoining the site.

Includes copy letter from Kennedy to Digby: '...We have had a terrific frost here just before Christmas, hard enough to produce three days skating on Charleville Lake, and I am told that there were lumps of ice floating about in the sea between Dublin and Kingstown, a thing which I do not think anyone remembers before. The thaw has now thoroughly set in after a second sharp spell of frost last week and between rain and melted snow the country generally and the rivers are terribly flooded.' (9 January 1939)

Includes letter from R. Fetherstonhaugh, solicitor, Mountmellick to Kennedy: 'I was very sorry to hear from my son that he had trespassed yesterday on Lord Digby's bog. He and some friends went out to shoot on the Burrow Meadows - apparently he wandered over the county boundary & it was surprising to me how he got so far; it was, I believe quite unintentional on his part and both of us regret it very much.' (16 January 1939)

Includes letter from An Roinn Tailte/Department of Lands forbidding the felling of native timber due to the outbreak of war and withdrawing the forestry permit granted to Lord Digby. (25 September 1939)

Includes letter from Digby to Kennedy: I am flying over to Northern Ireland on Monday morning. I should be there about a week or ten days investigating infantry training units in my capacity as Assistant Inspector of Infantry at the War Office. I regret I shall not be able to get leave to come over the border on this occasion, but would you write to me to Mount Stewart, Newtownards, Co. Down where I shall be on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th...I was very sorry to hear the sad news about Capt Boyd Rochfort's death. I would have sent you a wire to represent me at the funeral but did not know in time.' (10 August 1940)

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence relating to the administration of the Geashill Estate. Matters referred to include complications in the of sale of Scrubb Wood to A. E. Morean of Borrisokane due to the death duty on timber owed by Digby; applications for licenses from the Forestry Department to fell trees during wartime; emergency powers (control of timber) order 1941; trespass and poaching; offer of sale of Derrygunnigan wood to the Forestry Division, Department of Lands; wartime food supplies; and rental arrears.

Includes letter from Digby to Kennedy: ' I am absolutely at a loss to make out how you make out that duty was not paid on the Irish property and the woods. I am sure it was; the valuation included the woods as far as I can remember. When I have sold the woods before no question of this has arisen & I don't want this raised now. In fact if there is any quotation of it, the whole matter of the sale in this manner should be held up and the sale carried out similar to the Derrygunnigan sale or not at all. This raises such a big question that I should prefer to have no sale rather than a letter should go anywhere near the authorities on this subject. What action have you taken? You don't say whether you have raised the matter through the London solicitors or tried to do it direct. Please do nothing of this kind in future without writing to me on the subject.' (27 October 1940)

Includes letter from Kenneth Robins, stonemason, Portarlington to Kennedy: 'Looking at the ruins of the Digby Estate in Geashill the other day. I would like to know if their representatives would sell the pieces of cut stone in and around the site? I would buy and take away any stone suitable to my trade.' (2 February 1942)

Includes letter from G. Muir, forester on Digby Estate to Mr Douglas (Of A & L Goodbody): 'I am sending you this note as Mr K may be at Court top let you know that we have had the devil's own fire on Derryadd. It has been a night & day job since 11 last night until 11 today and now we have got to put out the fire in Derrynasligue Ditch or bank, and a half of a long road to carry water. Damn bogs anyway, they may be the glory of Eire but any way a curse to me.' (7 May 1942)

Includes letter from Kennedy to Digby:'We are all keeping well but as you say housekeeping is becoming increasingly difficult. We are really fortunate living in the country and cannot very well starve as I have been able to produce an acre of potatoes, and we have plenty of our own milk and eggs, and I have also produced 35 barrells of oats off two statute acres not to mention a very adequate supply of good turf (not off the two acres!). Unfortunate people especially of the poorer class in Dublin and other cities must be in a bad way. (19 September 1942)

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence relating to the administration of the Geashill Estate. Matters referred to include Col. Bury granted the concession of Cole Hill area; supply of poles for ESB; Lord Digby's broken leg; purchase by Offaly County Council of a site in Ballydonnan for housing site (includes map with coloured section); Clonad hit by storms and blizzards but no major damage; sale of Ballingaore House by the Perry Estate; poaching on Derrygunnigan woods; repatriation of items confiscated during a trip in August 1946; repair of Geashill Garda Barracks.

Includes letter to Muir from Digby detailing effects of rations and austerity in post-war Britain: "Lady Digby was beaten by the Farmers Union Candidate in fact the number of women on our [County Council] was reduced to 3... Things here are getting very unpleasant and terribly expensive. The Budget looms ahead in rather a disagreeable light! ... Restrictions are very severe about timber cutting here. you cant cut your own trees unless they are dead, and if they are dead you can't get any one to saw them up. I can't get a portable handsaw that I want and there are no saw benches about that aren't commanded by the Ministry of Supply". (1 April 1946).

Includes letter from James Brophy, Derrygolan to Digby, informing him that there is "a well containing oil on [my] turf bank". (4 June 1947).

Includes letter from Digby to Kennedy, describing a great holiday in Ireland where he was able to bring back all the things he purchased to the UK as dual resident "The inevitable economic crisis which I forecast when I was with you has fallen with great severity upon us all... We managed to get all the things that we bought in Eire safely over to this country and had no trouble on either side. I found the fact that I was a dual-resident was a great help" (22 September 1947).